Gator captured at Fernbank Park

CINCINNATI - Park rangers respond to a lot of interesting calls, but they said a call from Fernbank Park on Tuesday just might take the cake.

A park-goer found a small alligator wandering along the Sycamore Trail around 3:15 p.m., according to Great Parks spokesperson Kimberly Whitton. Rangers caught the animal unharmed, with help from the SPCA.

Great Parks of Hamilton County posted photos of the gator Thursday on Facebook.

“We can't say for certain how it got to Fernbank, but rest assured, there are not normally alligators here! We are assuming it was someone's pet that ended up at the park,” the county wrote on Facebook.

Fernbank Park sits along the Ohio River on the west side of Cincinnati.

The alligator was about 3.5 feet long. It was turned over to the SPCA and later placed with Arrowhead Reptile Center, officials said.